Point Guard

Rajon Rondo vs. Rafer Alston

I think this is going to be a good matchup, as both are tough guys with similar builds.

But Rondo is just playing fantastic basketball and along with the age difference, I'm predicting he will dominate Alston, unless they start whacking Rondo on his way to the basket and he starts missing those free-throws...

Small Fowrard

Paul Pierce vs. Rashard Lewis

This will be a very interesting matchup. Paul Pierce hasn't been himself since the playoffs started. He seems to be suffering from some sort of Garnettiteless (a disease caused by the absence of Kevin Garnett) mixed with a type of Beentheredonethatite (another disease, this one caused by the lack of an unachieved goal).

On the other side, Lewis has been pretty consistent throughout the First Round series and has a significant size advantage. I hope Pierce proves me wrong, but I'm giving this to the Magic 10-9

Power Forward

Glen Davis vs. Hedo Turkoglu

This one is difficult to predict, because "Big Baby" has been playing some pretty good basketball, filling in for the injured Garnett.

However, I don't believe that the First Round matchup against the Bulls frontcourt may be used to measure Davis' real ability to produce the necessary numbers. I'm anticipating that he will find it more difficult to overcome a more tactically advanced and skillful Turkoglu.

On the other side, the Turk is not the most consistent player out there. That's why I'm scoring a tie in this matchup. 10-10.

Center

Kendrick Perkins vs. Dwight Howard

In theory, this one is a no-brainer. Really, Dwight Howard is currently the best big man in the game and, although Kendirck Perkins has been proving a lot of people wrong, he is no matchup for Superman.

But I said in theory, because if the Celtics figure out a way (even without Kevin Garnett) to keep the ball from reaching the big fellow, they may limit his numbers and eventually stand a chance against him.

Having said this, I'm scoring this 10-8 in favour of the Magic anyway.

Bench

If Glen Davis was coming off the bench, I would be inclined to say that the Celtics would have an advantage on the rotation.

However, "Big Baby" is starting for the injured Kevin Garnett and the Celtics bench was everything but consistent in the First Round series against the Bulls. Part of it resulted, in my view, from not-so-good rotation management by Doc Rivers, but still the guys didn't convince me.

On the other side, there's really not much to work with, but Pietrus and Johnson seem to know exactly what is expected and Gortat didn't compromise when he was called to fill in the gap created by the suspended Howard.

Until the Celtics bench can prove me their worth it, I'm splitting this one between both teams 10-10.